Unexplored Highlights: High and low: collecting throughout the province

You’ve heard rumours about some of our most fascinating artifacts and objects. This is your chance to see them – in an exclusive, informal setting – and learn more.

Join us on a four-part adult learning program as we dive deeply into our world-class collections of art, photography, First Nations, marine and terrestrial life, and much more, with the kind of access usually reserved for researchers and scientists.

Led by our expert staff, you’ll explore big ideas about the role of objects, the meaning of museum collections and the human experience of things.

Through intimate conversations, dynamic lectures and behind-the-scenes visits, this informal, often hands-on program will be a feast for the mind and senses.

Explore how museum pros consider the world in a creative space for deeper thinking, doing and learning.

Part 3 High and low: collecting throughout the province

February 17  I  2:00– 4:00 pm

This week we go to all corners, altitudes and depths of the province to showcase the breadth of our collections. 

Among the fascinating objects you’ll see this week is a specimen once believed to have gone extinct during the Jurassic geologic period  (~200-145 million years ago). Dr. Henry Choong, Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, will discuss glass sponge reefs, an international treasure that live in the very deep waters of the Hecate Strait in northern BC. Fragile and vulnerable to damage, they are a vital habitat for a wide range of marine animals. Sponge reefs are so significant that recently, Parks Canada nominated the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs as one of eight potential UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Part 4 Behind-the-scenes

February 24  I  2:00– 4:00 pm

This week we go behind the scenes to get a sense of the size, age and value of the diverse Royal BC Museum collections. You can visit all of the areas, or just your favourites with your exclusive access.

Among the fascinating objects you’ll see this week is one of our largest specimens, the skeleton of Southern Resident Orca J32 (also known as Rhapsody). Dr. Gavin ​Hanke, Curator of Vertebrate Zoology, will talk about this new addition to our collection, a specimen that highlights societal changes in attitudes towards orcas in the last 60 years as well as changes to the environment and over-fishing. Rhapsody’s skeleton is also a poignant example of the importance of documenting what exists in BC today.